Massive combing operation fails to trace missing IAF helicopter

Massive air and land combing operations, assisted by fighter aircraft and satellite imagery, failed to trace the MI-8 helicopter, which went missing after an airdrop mission close to the Sino-Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh on February 26.

An Indian Air Force spokesman said contacts with the Chinese through diplomatic channels had also failed to trace the chopper, which had a crew of six on board. "The Chinese said they had found no wreckage on their side."

He said 250 personnel of the army, Assam Rifles and locals combed the entire area for the last four days and even fighter planes and a number of helicopters had joined the
search.

"Inacessbility, thick jungles and bad weather is hampering the search process," the spokesman said, adding the missing chopper was being piloted by Squadron Leader A
Raju with Squadron Leader Panwar as his co-pilot.

"We haven't given up yet and the search will continue," he said.

He said the IAF was now seeking the help of the United States of America and other major powers to search for debris through their sophisticated satellite imagery.

The helicopter had completed an airdrop sortie over Tali, a circle headquarters in the interior of Lower Subansiri district when it lost contact with the ground.